Hub Motor vs Mid Drive motor electric bikes

The topic of hub motor vs mid drive motors is a commonly debated topic among DIY ebike builders. Today we will explain the pros and cons of each each type of electric motor install and daily usage. We will provide you with the information you need with our first hand experience of these three different types of electric bike builds.

The three types of ebike motor installations we will cover today are:

• Front Hub Motor Conversion-  Watch the video of the 750 watt front hub motor install here.
• Rear Hub Motor Conversion- Check out the blog/video of our 1000 watt rear hub motor on YT.
• Mid Drive Conversion- Watch the video of the 1000watt BBSHD Mid Drive on our blog.

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To determine the strengths and weaknesses of each type of build we will first start with the Front Hub ebike conversion.

 

Front Hub Motor -Hub Motor vs Mid Drive

The front hub motor install is highly debated among ebike DIY enthusiasts. Mainly because control and safety can be a concern for front motor wheels at high wattages. We’ll explain more, but we do believe front hub motors can be a good choice for an ebike conversions when installed and used safely.

Advantages of a front hub install 

• Installation doesn’t interfere with chain. The mid drive motor moves your bike chain and is installed between pedals, and the rear hub drive requires the back wheel removed and cassette to install. The front hub is the easiest to install and doesn’t rely on your bike chain. In fact you don’t need a chain, you can use your front hub ebike like a scooter.
• The hub drive system cost less than a mid drive system. A variety of hub drive motors are priced in the $200-$300 range whereas the mid drive motors are usually priced above $700
• Front hub can provide better bike balance if battery is on rear rack. If you have a heavy battery in the rear of your bike, a front hub motor can help distribute the weight load evenly.
• Doesn’t interfere with shifting system along with being the easiest to install, a front hub motor will keep your shifting operating the same as it was before the installation.
• Can fit a lot of bikes Front hubs come attached to a bike rim and are available in a variety of wheel sizes.
• Great for tricycles When adequate motor space is available between the front forks, the front hub conversion can create an exciting three wheeled electric vehicle.

 

Here are four of our favorite front hub conversion kits:

• AW 1000W Front Wheel Electric Bicycle E-Bike Conversion
• Bafang 48V 500W Front Hub Motor Electric Bike Conversion Kit 
• EBIKELING 48V 1200Watt  Electric Bike Conversion Kit
• Schuck Front Hub Wheel 500W Electric Bicycle Conversion Motor Kit

 

Disadvantages of a front hub install 

• Font hubs might spin freely because the rider’s weight is not under the front wheel. This might limit the amount of traction provided when climbing hills or when riding on slippery surfaces. 
• Steering might not be as stable at high speeds due to the sensation that the bike is pulling you forward from the front rather than pushing you forward from the back. Many ebike enthusiasts agree that front hub conversions should be 750watts or lower.
• Front forks might not be as strong as rear dropouts The aluminum construction of a bicycle’s front forks might not be able to handle the torque created by a powerful electric motor. It’s a good idea to install a torque arm or two when installing a hub motor on your bicycle.
• Pedal assist isn’t as smooth as the mid drive Hub motors tend to have more of a jerky, aggressive pedal assist option, whereas the mid drive motors typically have a smoother feel when using pedal assist. 
• Requires additional controller to be stored on bike. Most of the hub drive installations require an additional controller to be stored on your bicycle.
• Less Stealthy than rear hub or mid drive In addition to the extra controller on the bike the front hub doesn’t blend in with the rear cog of your bicycle.
• Limiting when it comes to rims and tires You must find a kit that matches your current bike wheels and fits in the area between the front forks.

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A front hub ebike conversion kit can still be a great option if you are looking for a quick install with a lower wattage motor.

A popular choice for front hub conversions is on tricycles.  A low cost conversion kit can be added to a tricycle bike frame to create a fun and useful three wheeled electric vehicle.

Make sure to install torque arms on your bike frame to help prevent the motor from spinning out of the front forks.

The other popular option for a hub conversion is the rear hub electric motor conversion.

 

Rear Hub Motor Install and Usage

The rear hub motor install is the most popular type of DIY electric bike conversion. Rear hub motors can be installed on a variety of bike frames and can provide a lot of bang for your buck.

Advantages of rear hub install 

• Can work well with 750Watts and higher. If you are seeking a conversion with increased wattages and faster speeds, a rear hub or mid drive conversion is typically recommend.
• The rear hub drive system cost less than a mid drive system. Check out this blog and video where we completed a rear hub installation under 550 dollars.
• Has a stealthier appearance than front hub. The rear hub may be partially covered by your cog and disc brakes, giving your electric bike the appearance of a regular bicycle.
• Can fit a lot of bikes Front hubs come attached to a bike rim and are available in a variety of wheel sizes.
• Available in a variety of wattages Front hub, rear hub, and mid drive motors are all available in a wide range of power levels.
• Support of rider weight over back wheel which provides more traction on hills and slippery surfaces compared to the front hub motor.
• Steering may feel more stable at high speeds since the rear hub motor provides more of a pushing riding sensation compared to the front hub pulling sensation.

Here are five of our favorite rear hub electric bike conversion kits:

• Voilamart 1000W rear hub drive
• Bafang Rear Wheel 500W 48V Hub Motor
• Ebikeling 1500W Conversion Kit
• JAXPETY 48V 1000W Electric Bicycle
• EBIKELING 48V 1200W 26″ Direct Drive Electric Bike Kit with Battery 

 

Disadvantages of a rear hub install 

• Rear dropouts not as strong as bottom bracket Although the rear dropout of your bike frame might be stronger than the front fork of your frame you still want to install torque arms to help prevent the wheel from spinning off of your bike. The mid drive install uses the bottom bracket of your bike which provides a better sense of motor security and rider safety.
• Pedal assist isn’t as smooth as the mid drive The rear hub pedal assist provides the same inferior feel as the front hub pedal assist.  The mid drive pedal assist tends to operate with a more natural feel for the rider. 
• Requires additional controller to be stored on bike. Hub drive installations require an additional controller to be stored on your bicycle. The mid drive conversion does not require an additional controller
• More difficult to install than front hub because this installation requires maneuvering the chain of the bicycle and installing the cog that comes with your conversion kit
• May require some adjustment to work with your shifters If you are changing the amount of speeds that your bike can shift through it might be necessary to fine tune your derailleurs.
• Difficult to change flat tire Both front and rear hub conversions can be more tedious and time consuming than changing a tire without a hub motor on it!  Check out this blog on how to change a bike tire tube.

A rear hub conversion is a popular choice mainly because of the price and performance.

You might expect to pay a third of the price for a 1000watt hub drive compared to a 1000watt mid drive.

But the difference between the two motors is like comparing apples to oranges.

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Mid Drive Motor Install and Usage

The mid drive motor install is the higher end choice for DIY electric bike conversions. You may ask, why would you spend more money on a mid drive conversion?

It may be similar to ask, why would you spend more on a Mercedes or BMW opposed to a Honda or Ford? Appearance, ride comfort, or motor performance?

In our opinion, a mid drive is an aesthetically pleasing fancy high end motor that provides a balanced electric bike ride.

Advantages of mid drive motor install 

• Does not require an additional cumbersome controller This adds to the sleekness in appearance of the mid drive motor install.
• Provides a more balanced ride compared to front and rear hub conversions.  Since the motor is mounted in between the pedals, the motor weight is perfectly centered on the bike. This provides a more balanced and natural feel when riding.
• Works well with chain drive system The hub motors have a tendency to feel like riding a bike that has a motor attached to it, whereas a mid drive conversion feels like riding a bike that has a motor built into it. The mid drive motor turns your bike crank which moves the chain on your bike, producing a more natural ride feel.
• More torque produced on hills When downshifting on a bike, the mid drive motor can produce higher levels of torque than the hub drive, making it easier to tackle large hills.
• Smooth pedal assist compared to most hub drive motors. A common type of pedal assist used in the BBSHD mid drive motors is called cadence sensing. This type of pedal assist senses your pedaling which turns the motor power to the level of assist (up to 9 levels) you have chosen via a handlebar dial or screen. Hub motors also have cadence sensing but many lack the ability to choose assist level. There is also an additional type of pedal assist on certain mid drive motors called torque sensing.
• Keep your current rims and tires. With a hub motor installation you might be at the mercy of the rim that comes attached to the motor. With a mid drive installation you can keep your current rims and tires.
• Changing tires is easy compared to the hub motors. Since the motor is located between the pedals a flat tire change is as easy as it would be would be without a motor.
• Many display options The BBSHD motor series has at least 8 different colorful displays that you can choose for your electric bike. Some hub motor brands do offer different types of displays.
• Does not require torque arms– Since the torque isn’t directly applied to the wheel of your bike, torque arms aren’t necessary for this type of conversion.
• Better for off road rugged trails A lower center of gravity and fewer moving parts make the mid drive ebikes a more popular choice for off road riders.

Here are two of our favorite mid drive ebike conversion kits:

• The Bafang BBSHD Mid Drive
• Bafang BBS02 Mid Drive

 

Disadvantages of mid drive motor install 

• Higher cost compared to most hub motors Did you know that a name brand mid drive ebike conversion can cost almost three times as much as the hub drive conversion?
• More difficult to install than hub drive because this type of motor conversion is built into your bike rather than on your bike. With the right tools and video tips you can build a mid drive conversion in an afternoon.
• Requires a few specialty tools for installation  In order to install the mid drive motor you will need to remove the bottom bracket of your bike. You will need a pedal wrench, a crank puller, and a bottom bracket removal tool.
• May need to adjust for motor wobble The amount of torque produced by a mid drive motor may cause it to move up and down in the bottom bracket. Check out this video to see how we solved this problem on our mid drive build.

Hub Motor vs Mid Drive Motors- which one should I get?

Editors final thoughts on hub motor vs mid drive electric bikes:

The hub drive motor is a great choice if your main focus is to stay under a 500-600 dollar budget. You can purchase a 1000 watt hub conversion and a 48v13ah battery to stay near this price range.

We recently completed a hub motor conversion for a friend who is traveling the United States. He transports his ebike in his SUV and commented, “I find myself exploring more trails and seeing more sights than I would with a normal pedal bike. It’s easy to find the motivation to ride my ebike.”

A hub motor kit and battery will provide the performance you may expect in a commercial ebike at nearly triple the price.

 

The mid drive motor is a great choice if your main focus is to enjoy riding a higher end ebike. We recently met with a car mechanic who was interested in purchasing his first ebike. After he tested both our hub motor and mid drive motor ebikes he commented:

“These bikes are both really fun to ride and I couldn’t stop smiling, I’m going to go with the mid drive ebike because of the motor quality and it’s integration into the bike are superior to the hub drives.”

 

After sharing the pros and cons of hub motor vs mid drive motors we hope you can make a more informed decision on electric bike selection.

If you have any additional questions about these ebike conversions or have suggestions that we should add to our pros/cons lists, reach out to us or leave a comment on this blog.